Sen. Ted Cruz causes stir with photo of tiger pelt

By Kolten Parker, San Antonio Express-News

Updated 10:44 am, Thursday, April 24, 2014

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz caused a stir with a photo posted of him next to a rug that appears to be made of a tiger's pelt.
Photo: Kolten Parker

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz caused a stir with a photo posted of him next to...

Senator Ted Cruz addresses the crowd at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas, Thursday, April 17, 2014. The tea party favorite is frequently mentioned as a possible 2016 presidential hopeful. Some have criticized him, though, for visiting Iowa, which kicks off presidential voting, four times while visiting the Texas-Mexico border once before as senator. (AP Photo/Valley Morning Star, David Pike) (AP Photo/Valley Morning Star/David Pike)

Photo: David Pike, Associated Press

Senator Ted Cruz addresses the crowd at the Marine Military Academy...

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Photo: Charlie Neibergall, AP

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at the Network of Iowa...

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Photo: McClatchy-Tribune News Service

SAN ANTONIO — A photo of freshman U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz kneeling with a rug that appears to be a tiger's pelt is generating a hullabaloo among activists and supporters on Thursday.

The photo, posted to Cruz's official Facebook page Wednesday, shows Texas' junior senator and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posing next to a rug that appears to be the hide and face of a tiger in a Houston office. The caption of the photo reads: “Did a little shopping for the office with United States Senator Mike Lee in Houston today.”

Many comments on the photo say the rug is not real, but Catherine Frazier, a Cruz spokeswoman, said “we have no idea” if the rug is a real tiger pelt.

“Wild tiger numbers are at an all-time low. We have lost 97% of wild tigers in just over a century. Tigers may be one of the most revered animals, but they are also vulnerable to extinction. As few as 3,200 exist in the wild today,” the website reads.

“If the rug is real, Ted Cruz's use of it reduces a majestic once-living being to a doormat,” she said. “Gunning down wildlife in order to make umbrella stands, rugs, and ornaments is frowned upon in the 21st century, as most people have come to learn from and be awe-inspired by the lives, intelligence, and social make-up of other living beings.”

The photo had received 15,000 “likes” and more than 6,000 comments on Facebook by Thursday morning.

Some of the discussion on the comment thread of the photo included debate over whether the rug is an actual tiger.